Tranmere Rovers FC defender Ian Goodison earns recall to Jamaica squad for Gold Cup in USA

May 25 2011 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

IAN GOODISON’S consistent form with Tranmere over the last season has earned him a recall to the Jamaican international squad.

The 37-year-old centre-back is included in Jamaica’s party of 23 for the Gold Cup tournament in the USA this summer.

Rather than putting his feet up at home in Montego Bay, Goodison will be training with the squad in Brazil ahead of games against Grenada in Los Angeles on June 2, Guatemala in Miami on June 10 and Honduras in New Jersey on June 13.

Goodison has not made an international appearance for Jamaica since November 2008. The international team is currently coached by Theodore Whitmore, the former midfielder who was a Prenton Park teammate with Goodison five years ago.

Meanwhile, assistant manager Kevin Summerfield is confident about Tranmere’s prospects for the 2011-12 campaign.

He said: “The most important thing since I walked through the door last year is there has been a definite improvement in the quality of playing staff the gaffer has been able to get together. We finished the season in a much healthier position than when we started.

“All of our highs came towards the end of the season when I had a feeling we were getting together more as a team. There was a lot more strength in the team, a lot more confidence in terms of going into every game thinking we could get something out of it.

“The way we finished the season bodes well for next season. Pre-season was difficult last summer. We had players injured and a lot of trial players. Next season we will have a more settled group. A lot of the boys who will be starting next season played this season and contributed to us staying up.

“They form the basis of the group and will need to add three or four players this summer.”

FORMER Liverpool and Tranmere goalkeeper Frank Lane has died at the age of 62. Lane, from Wallasey, joined Rovers from local amateur club Stanley Arms.

He played 76 league games for Tranmere between 1968 and 1971 before he was signed up by Liverpool. Lane had the unenviable task of being deputy to number one goalkeeper Ray Clemence at Anfield.